The Michigan Council of Teachers of English, or MCTE, recognized three Spartans in August 2026 for their contributions to research and teaching in the field.
MCTE is led by Benjamin Woodcock, who began serving as president in the 2026-27 academic year. Woodcock has served in leadership roles for MCTE since 2018, including four years as the organization’s secretary.
“MCTE is pleased to announce the recipients of our annual awards for teachers for the 2026-2027 school year. We’re looking forward to honoring their impactful work at our Spring Conference,” Woodcock said. He is also an English teacher at Okemos High School and has been involved with the Red Cedar Writing Project — a National Writing Project affiliated site on MSU’s campus — Spartan Writing Camps, the Greenrock Writers Retreat and the Chippewa River Writing Project through Central Michigan University.
“It seems like everywhere you look, there are Spartans contributing, leading and maintaining a standard of excellence — especially in education,” Woodcock said. He earned a master’s degree in teaching and curriculum from MSU in 2019. “It is an honor to celebrate these fellow Spartans for their work in their communities and beyond.”
The Spartan honorees are:
- Associate Professor Jennifer VanDerHeide (Charles Carpenter Fries Award)
- Alumna Jill Hoort (Ray H. Lawson Award)
- Alumna Jenny Sanford (Middle School English Teacher of the Year)